Two fifth graders to stand trial for plot to rape a girl and kill several classmates

TWO boys aged 10 and 11 have been committed to stand trial for conspiring to rape and murder at least one of their classmates.

The 5th graders from Fort Colville Elementary School in Washington have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit first degree murder, tampering with a witness, and juvenile in possession of a firearm.

Under local law, children aged between 8 and 12 do not have the capacity to commit crimes but that presumption can be overcome with compelling evidence.

The court found that both boys met seven factors needed to try children of their age.

Police will allege that the boys brought a knife, a gun and ammunition to school with the intention of killing seven classmates, including one of the boy's girlfriends.

The plan was foiled when another student saw a knife fall from one of the suspect’s backpacks while getting off the school bus and told a teacher.

A school counselor told the court one of the suspects became agitated when confronted about the plot, stomping his feet and swinging his arms.

A local police officer testified that he asked one of the suspects whether he knew that killing his girlfriend was wrong and against the law. The boy allegedly replied,"Yes, I wanted her dead."

The court also heard from a psychologist, who said one of the suspects told him the plan was for the other student to rape, then kill the girl while he stood guard.

The psychologist said the suspect told him he knew that rape meant having sex with someone when they don’t want to.

The boy also allegedly told the psychologist that murder was “the baddest crime that I know of.”

The grandmother of one of the boys testified that he liked to pretend he was living in the popular Zelda fantasy video game series.

She showed the courtroom “battle claws" made out of paper, weapons they wrote about in their alleged “plot to kill” letter.